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Whack a Moley

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Book Synopsis

From the creators of the award winning Holey Moley comes a laugh-out-loud sequel.

Gus the Goat is bursting with energy.

Mavis Mole?

Not so much.

So when Mavis suggests a calm game of tiddlywinks, Gus has other ideas.

Bigger ideas.

Bolder ideas…

WHACK A MOLEY!

This brilliantly bonkers picture book is packed with comedy that bounces effortlessly between dry and slapstick – perfect for making everyone in the room laugh!

The delightfully mismatched friends, Gus and Mavis, are brought to life in style by Bethan Clarke’s witty, razor-sharp dialogue and Anders Frang’s vibrant, characterful illustrations.

For fans of Oi Frog! by Kes Gray and Jim Field, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems, and Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein, Whack a Moley is a celebration of imagination, wordplay, and an unforgettable friendship – a read-aloud riot, perfect for any time a giggle is needed.

Our Review Panel says...

Gus the Goat wants to play and his friend Mavis Mole is happy to agree. There’s one problem – what shall they play? Whack-a-moley? Crack-a-moley? Quack-a-moley or Stack-a-moley? Unfortunately, all Gus’s outlandish ideas aren’t so much fun for Mavis. But then Mavis retaliates with her own outrageous ideas that aren’t so much fun for Gus. After a lot of false starts, they finally settle for something much calmer and their friendship is saved.

Vividly funny illustrations by Anders Frang bring the story to life visually. The expressions of the animals show perfectly their growing frustration with each other. They also illustrate the way everyone loves to watch an argument – throughout the book, two cheeky squirrels follow proceedings intently. The story is all about consideration for others and finding compromise but you will have oodles of fun along the way.

If you read it aloud more than once, encourage joining in with the silliest bits. There’s stacks of slapstick humour and lots of cheerful wordplay with rhymes and puns, making it a great choice for a rumbustious storytime.